In this History of Prints (HoP) episode, Tru and I finish talking about the life and work of William Hogarth, the father of Western sequential art. We look at and pick apart three series: Industry and Idleness, The Four Stages of Cruelty, and Humours of an Election. Timely, no? Hogarth continues to point out society’s faults and baser instincts. He never stopped trying to teach the masses about comportment and judgment.
Episode image: William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Gin Lane, 1751. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 15 1/16 x 12 1/2 in. (38.3 x 31.7 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Useful Links
Harlot’s Progress video from Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art. https://youtu.be/VPQze0EbpdQ
Harlot’s Progress video from Reading the Past. https://youtu.be/u1rtBD0qvPY?si=DkVatOJ5-vEyrIqF
Beer Street and Gin Lane from Reading the Past. https://youtu.be/A3-Je-lSKrE?si=C9igJSDSvYVyRabY
After Allan Ramsay (British, 1713–1784). Portrait of William Hunter, 1760. Engraving. Wellcome Collection.
Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin (French, 1699–1779). Saying Grace, c. 1740. Oil on canvas. 49.5 x 38.5 cm. (19 ½ x 15 ¼ in.). Musée du Louvre. Paris.
Jean-Baptiste Greuze (French, 1725–1805). The Village Bride, 1761. Oil on canvas. 92 x 117 cm. (36 x 46 in.). Musée du Louvre. Paris.
Inigo Jones (British, 1573–1652). Banqueting House, 1622. London.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The South Sea Scheme, 1722. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 10 ¼ x 12 15/16 in. (26.1 x 32.8 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Harlot’s Progress, 1732 or before. Series of 6 etchings with engraving. Sheet (each): 12 5/16 x 15 1/8 in. (31.3 x 38.4 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Rake’s Progress, 1735. Series of 8 paintings. Sir John Soane’s Museum, London.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Rake’s Progress, 1735. Series of 8 etchings with engraving. Sheet (each): 13 7/8 x 15 7/8 in. (35.2 x 40.4 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode, c. 1743. Series of 6 paintings. Each: 66.9 x 90.8 cm. The National Gallery, London.
After William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode, 1745. Series of 6 etchings with engraving. Plate (each): 15 1/4 x 18 1/2 in. (38.7 x 47 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Mr. Garrick in the Character of Richard III, 1746. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 16 3/8 x 20 1/2 in. (41.6 x 52 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Analysis of Beauty, written with a view to fixing the fluctuating ideas of taste. London: J. Reeves, 1743. S curves from The Analysis of Beauty, written with a view to fixing the fluctuating ideas of taste. London: J. Reeves, 1743.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Plate I from The Analysis of Beauty, written with a view to fixing the fluctuating ideas of taste. London: J. Reeves, 1743.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Plate II from The Analysis of Beauty, written with a view to fixing the fluctuating ideas of taste. London: J. Reeves, 1743.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Fellow ‘Prentices at their Looms, plate 1 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Plate: 10 3/8 x 13 7/16 in. (26.4 x 34.2 cm.); sheet: 10 5/8 x 14 in. (27 x 35.5 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Industrious ‘Prentice Performing the Duty of a Christian, plate 2 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 10 3/8 x 13 3/4 in. (26.4 x 34.9 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Idle ‘Prentices at Play in the Churchyard, plate 3 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 10 1/4 x 13 9/16 in. (26 x 34.5 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Industrious ‘Prentice a Favourite and Entrusted by his Master, plate 4 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Plate: 10 3/8 x 13 1/2 in. (26.3 x 34.3 cm.); sheet: 10 11/16 x 13 7/8 in. (27.1 x 35.2 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Idle ‘Prentice Turned Away and Sent to Sea, plate 5 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 10 3/8 x 13 11/16 in. (26.4 x 34.8 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Industrious ‘Prentice Out of his Time and Married to his Master’s Daughter, plate 6 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Plate: 10 3/8 x 13 9/16 in. (26.4 x 34.4 cm.); sheet: 10 9/16 x 13 7/8 in. (26.8 x 35.2 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The ...